Decided to go the DIY route (as with everything else in my system barring the skimmer!) for my reactor.

50mm PVC pipe with all the fittings:

the ends are removable so i can replace the media

phosban in one side, activated carbon in the other. don't worry, there's a sponge on the RHS as well, just hidden under the caps!

and gurgling away happily in the sump. I T-d off the supply going to my ATS which is a 1000LPH pump, so should be getting around 400, as I think my ATS is getting about 600LPH.

All in all I am happy with the result. Didn't take long at all and was pretty cheap to construct. Water movement is good through the pipe, and there is lots of surface area in both media so hopefully will be beneficial to the system

I dont want to be negative at all, but i would seriously consider other options that the filter wool..... over time it will most certainly become a detritus trap....... perhaps a perforated divider would work better over the long run?

The more you know, the more you know, you don't know........ in life and marines

I dont want to be negative at all, but i would seriously consider other options that the filter wool..... over time it will most certainly become a detritus trap....... perhaps a perforated divider would work better over the long run?

@ mekaeel - to be honest I dont know either! I went to KwaZulu Plastics in Gale street, told the guy what I needed to do and he sorted me out! they're very reasonably priced as well, I think they are one of the main distributors for PVC parts to the hardware stores.

I use something very similar but you will need to change/clean the floss daily, i use those white pond mats and cut a thin strip and roll it up to circle shape, works well but definetely daily cleaning needed.

Are there any negatives to keeping the Phosban and the carbon in one reactor?

How often do you change each of the medias. I know Phosphate sponge (AM brand) is effective for about 6 months and carbon?

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thanks man. so far I have not noticed any negatives, algae has decreased (i started up an ATS just before installing this unit though so that definitely helped) and my water is much cleaner. to be honest i have been very slack with changin the media - i changed both last night for the first time! must definitely do it more often, the sponges were full of gunk...

Hi there, i also built two DIY carbon and fhosphate reactors, one was for Goby and myself they are up and running smooth, see on my thread Mandarin's new marine WORX #18 second pic next to the skimmer.
Components are 1 x 300mm clear 50mm pvc tube, at the bottom i used a 50mm endcap, drilled a 48mm hole in it and installed a round piece of plastic fine egggrate on the inside and glued into position.
On the top section is a union wih elbow and control valve direct from overflow ( have another direct pipe with valve on the same line ), i fill the reactor with goodies and press the endcap on firmly, then screw it on and open the valve. Now when ever i want to clean or replace the phosphate and carbon i just close the valve and the overflow goes down the second pipeline, no need to stop return pumps.

Hi there, i also built two DIY carbon and fhosphate reactors, one was for Goby and myself they are up and running smooth, see on my thread Mandarin's new marine WORX #18 second pic next to the skimmer.
Components are 1 x 300mm clear 50mm pvc tube, at the bottom i used a 50mm endcap, drilled a 48mm hole in it and installed a round piece of plastic fine egggrate on the inside and glued into position.
On the top section is a union wih elbow and control valve direct from overflow ( have another direct pipe with valve on the same line ), i fill the reactor with goodies and press the endcap on firmly, then screw it on and open the valve. Now when ever i want to clean or replace the phosphate and carbon i just close the valve and the overflow goes down the second pipeline, no need to stop return pumps.

@ mekaeel - to be honest I dont know either! I went to KwaZulu Plastics in Gale street, told the guy what I needed to do and he sorted me out! they're very reasonably priced as well, I think they are one of the main distributors for PVC parts to the hardware stores.

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Howzit I love your idea !!! I also use them. Who did you speak to there ? I would like to build one too!!!!